MotoGP 2018

[bigoltool]

That went about like expected. Marquez just kept his powder dry for the first 15 laps then just checked out. Ducati have to figure out how to run the harder compounds. Yamaha seemed to have righted the ship to some extent from earlier in the week.

Now the "summer break"... Next race isnt til Brno August 5th.

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

Yeah it sure looked like Yamaha had their setup right. Viñales did well during the last 6-7 laps to put two Yamahas on the podium. He went thru four riders from 7th to 3rd in the remaining few laps. So was tire choice Lorenzo’s excuse this time? What about the other Ducs? They just don’t seem to do that well unless they have a long straightaway. How many low sides I wonder, does Crutch have to go thru before he learns better? He seems to ride very well...until he doesn’t. Must be frustrating for his team. Now, three weeks until the next race? DAMN!

 

[jellyrug]

Good to see Brad Binder Moto2 as the former Moto3 champ to come through finally and get a first on the podium. Could be that he has finally gotten over the bad crash he had when moving to Moto2 initially.

 

[Cantab]

Yeah it sure looked like Yamaha had their setup right. Viñales did well during the last 6-7 laps to put two Yamahas on the podium. He went thru four riders from 7th to 3rd in the remaining few laps. So was tire choice Lorenzo’s excuse this time? What about the other Ducs? They just don’t seem to do that well unless they have a long straightaway. How many low sides I wonder, does Crutch have to go thru before he learns better? He seems to ride very well...until he doesn’t. Must be frustrating for his team. Now, three weeks until the next race? DAMN!

That cunning Rossi fella said he looked at Folgers data and scrutinized last years race video to see how Jonas
hung onto Marquez and formulated a pretty darn good plan to earn 2nd, cause on Fri etc he was up shitz creek for set up, do what ya gotta do

As for George (English for Jorge) he said his front tyre was fine and they spent too much time fretting over
it and the whole front but neglected the rear - thats what was giving him the epsoms....he said...

 

[bigoltool]

Yamaha is losing MoviStar, gaining Monster as title sponsor for next year.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2018/07/17/yamaha-motogp-team-and-monster-join-forces-from-2019/265895

On a somewhat unrelated topic I just read that Tom Sykes is out of Kawasaki's WSBK team for next season. The rift between he and Johnny Rea has proven to be insurmaountable. Wishing the Grinner well!
https://www.asphaltandrubber.com/wsbk/tom-sykes-leaving-kawasaki-officially-worldsbk/

 

[Cantab]

Toms departure could be a new beginning for Alvaro Bautista.

 

[fallenarch]

Looks like Haslam will replace Tom. Interesting he is a young 35 years old!

 

[bigoltool]

Looks like Haslam will replace Tom. Interesting he is a young 35 years old!

I just read that. Never understood how Leon found himself out of WSBK in the first place. They (Kawi) just finished 3rd at Suzuka too. On that subject pretty cool to see PJ Jacobsen on the podium (2nd overall) at Suzuka! Seems like its been a while since an American was.

 

[Cantab]

Early stuff but Zarco leading FP1 , most of the usual suspects have done the session on 1 set of tyres and not popping on a soft for a lap time. Temps are hot 38degC ambient for the morning.

 

[jellyrug]

Oh the drama.....

https://www.motorbikefans.com/loren..._medium=engage&utm_campaign=MotorbikeFansPush

 

[bigoltool]

Pedrosa ttt in FP2!
https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/902574/1/motogp-brno-free-practice-2-results
Petrucci gets a revised fairing.

 

[Cantab]

Pedrosa ttt in FP2!
https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/902574/1/motogp-brno-free-practice-2-results
Petrucci gets a revised fairing.
View attachment 1584026

Yep pushing the enveolpe but legal says Danny Aldridge.

 

[Cantab]

Hafizh Syahrin top yamaha rider so far.
Marc Marquez has only used 2 sets of tyres 18 laps each session, seems to be what he does on a Friday.

 

[Cantab]

Number 46 pulled out a stunner in the last minute of FP3 to go top, for now.

 

[WuzzaCBXRider]

 

[bigoltool]

Dovi and Rossi with last minute flyers.
https://www.crash.net/motogp/results/902694/1/motogp-brno-full-qualifying-results

 

[Cantab]

Some strange tyre choices going on thru FP4 with some still using softs ?? Track temps are 50degc ! Tyre management is going to be crucial to have something left for the end of the
race - this is not unusual theses days it seems.

Dovi and Rossi were more than happy with their times but didnt sound overly confident
on race distance, theres also a good chance of rain tomorrow....

 

[Cantab]

Classic moto3 race lots of passing and shenanigans , weathers hanging in there atm

 

[bigoltool]

Man that final 3 laps of the MotoGP race was a modern classic! I thought Lorenzo was done mid race but he made a battle of it at the end. Rossi stuffing Crutchlow in the final corner was good too.

 

[fallenarch]

Great race. People will say this rider is better than that rider but this was a prime example of how a bikes advantages can win a race. Rossi fell back and some will say he made the wrong choice in tires but the Yamaha would have been in the back with a hard front and never been competitive. Dovi is clearly a master at maximizing his advantages and staying cool under pressure. I sort of think MM was playing possum for much of the race but Lorenzo roughing him up seems to have impacted him. Lo was on a mission and basically rode the tires off the Ducati. He was doing things most would say the bike can't do and getting away with it. Look out MM, Lo is on a mission and you are in his crosshairs!